Survey of the teaching contents in anatomy and physiology that are necessary for intravenous injections in basic nursing education

Abstract

To investigate the current situation and future directions of the teaching contents that are necessary for intravenous injections in basic nursing education, we conducted a questionnaire survey of faculty members at nursing schools nationwide about the teaching contents in anatomy and physiology that are necessary for administering an intravenous injection. Of the educators, 35.6% taught their students to select the basilic vein in the cubital fossa for bolus IV injections and 28.8% taught their students to select the same vein for intravenous infusion. In regard to the knowledge of anatomy needed to administer an IV injection, 4.5% did not teach their students that the nerves and arteries lie deep behind the cutaneous veins, and 10.2% did not teach them that the median nerve and brachial artery accompany the basilic vein in the cubital fossa, which suggested that not all the educators were familiar with the anatomical structure of the nerves and arteries in relation to intravenous injections when they taught their students about which vein should be selected for puncture. As to physiological knowledge, 59.0% did not tell their students about the possibility of a vasovagal reaction (VVR). It is considered necessary to teach students about the specific contents and rationale of adverse reactions associated with administration of intravenous injections.